José Luis Gallardo Navarro

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Literature · Subcategory: Literary street map

José Luis Gallardo (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1927-2003), was entirely self taught and had a critical spirit. His literary style broke with convention. He founded, together with his brother Tony Gallardo, the socio-cultural and political movement Latitud 28. This group achieved a high level of democratic awareness, starting up cultural movements whose aims were to bring culture to the masses via poetical recitals, talks, and open air exhibitions. He was a long standing collaborator with daily newspapers La Provincia and Diario de Las Palmas. His finest works include: Versos de la cárcel, Hablamos del sujeto and Babel -in- sularia.

«We are what is not discussed.
The bread and salt we offer 
to the doorstep of our peace.
But also the clap of thunder
which, against the iniquity,
launches the sea over land.»

(Eight voices of a song, uninterrupted)

«The sun has dropped out of the blue sky. Through the skylight of clouds, an obliquous rain made of gold and blood is now very generous (...) I cheer up and go down to the sea edge. I take off my shoes and roll up my trousers. In this guise, with my head bowed, hands joined together on my back, my feet splashing about in the water, I use up my daily ration of measured steps before I leave.»

(Horizontal rain - 19/07/02)

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